Cowboys rout lackluster Knights

North Queensland have their second win at home and in 2014, after a six try scoring bonanza over the Newcastle Knights in a 28 points to 2 victory in front of 11,189 fans at 1300 Smiles Stadium.

Coming into tonight we were faced with a contest between the 15th and 16th placed sides in the competition which no one would have suspected coming into this season. There was a glimpse why in the opening twenty minutes, as both sides were guilty of being wasteful with possession. Newcastle though were able to post a penalty goal after Rory Kostjaysn was pinged.

Johnathan Thurston was at his energetic best tonight and had a hand in a majority of the Cowboys' tries tonight. The first try though came from his halfback partner who chipped a cross-field kick to Matthew Wright making his first start for North Queensland who had all the time in the world to put down the ball.

This effort seemed like to click the Cowboys of late 2013 into gear - as they scored twice more between the 20th and 30th minute to put the Knights almost in the rear view window in the contest. Brent Tate was slightly fortuitous for his effort after it rebounded off Michael Morgan's knee into his gleeful hands.

There was nothing fortuitous in Morgan's effort in the 28th minute though, as he was on the end of a sweeping backline movement led by Thurston to get his first of his tries either side of the halftime break.

Morgan was the recipient in his earlier try but his second in the 49th minute was more a solo effort. He stabbed through a kick that caught everyone including Morgan himself wrong-footed before he crawled to his own kick to turn the light out on the Knights in the contest and making it a Ritchie Benaud pleasing 22-2 scoreline.

Ray Thompson got himself on the scoresheet with the Cowboys final four pointer after a glut of errors and penalties from the Knights gave the home side repeated possession in their half. Thompson went for a simple dart forty metres out, beat the two initial markers and was away for the score.

Newcastle continue their road trip next weekend as they travel to the nation's capital to face a fellow mercurial side in the Canberra Raiders while North Queensland also go on the road, for a blockbuster contest against high flying Wests Tigers.

Welcome to 1300 Smiles Stadium for a game most weren't expecting to be describing as a 15th v 16th contest. It is North Queensland coming off a loss against Gold Coast last Monday hosting the Knights who finally got off their duck egg with an emphatic victory over the Cronulla Sharks at home.

Newcastle are first off onto the field in their traditional red and blue jerseys taking residence in the nothern portion of 1300 Smiles Stadium awaiting kick-off. They are followed by the Cowboys in their home strip who prepare to kick us off.

1: KICK-OFF! Knights with first use.

5: First PENALTY of the evening to Newcastle - North Queensland's halfback with a high shot.

6: A costly late tackle PENALTY against North Queensland and Rory Kostjaysn gives Newcastle a whole set on the home sides line. They opt for the two points.

15: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTSJoseph Leilua makes an unforced error.Leilua drew the two defenders, did all the hard work but he threw the pass too high for his winger to catch. Reprieve for North Queensland.

20: VIDEO REFEREE: Matthew was the Wright place after the Thurston kick. Checking onside and grounding.

20: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Scored by Matthew Wright. Kick to come.GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Wright was onside and had time to make himself a cuppa before putting the ball down.

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.Thurston pilots it over for a six-nil lead.

22: VIDEO REFEREE: We're upstairs once again after the halfback sliced through for North Queensland and the errant pass went to Tate who scored.

22: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Scored by Brent Tate. Kick to come.GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Morgan was onside, so the rebound that fell to Tate was good and another four pointer to the home side.

23: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.Thurston gets the swing on the conversion again but it hits the upright and goes wide.

26: PENALTY Cowboys - They have swung the momentum well in their favour now, as Knights are struggling with the pace.

28: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.Thurston's got the Knights chasing shadows tonight. A nice sweep play gave Thurston room allowing him to hold off and send Michael Morgan in for the home sides third try.

29: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.Thurston corrects the earlier miss with less spin but two points on the scoreboard.

33: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTSAkuila Uate makes an unforced error.Uate trying to inspire his side with a charging run spills it cold. North Queensland scrum 35 metres out.

48: North Queensland's halfback again with a good run and almost got Ray Thompson over. He was held up though. Tackle four.

49: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.Michael Morgan - he did it all himself! Saw Boyd was out of position, so he put a grubber through slipped and crawled to the ball for the try!

50: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.Johnathan Thurston adds two more to his tally with an assist from the upright.

58: RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! The halfback was offside for North Queensland so PENALTY Newcastle.

61: Newcastle get their lines slightly wrong and the ball is propelled forward.

62: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Scored by Ray Thompson. Kick to come.It's turning into a rout now! Thompson shrugged off two flimsy tackles and just set off for the try-line. It's getting to F/A increasing time for the home side now.

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.Thurston hooks it over for two more.

66: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYSJames Tamou makes an unforced error.Uate winds up once again and collides with Origin team-mate Tamou who strips the ball out. Knights scrum on their own 20.

69: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTSAkuila Uate makes an unforced error.The Cowboys probe the line with Thurston launching a crossfield kick, Uate full of bluster goes up to catch it but he spilled it twice.

69: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYSJames Tamou makes an unforced error.James Tamou tries to push himself through the line once again, he just forgot the ball.

70: A rare chance for the Knights to attack after Winterstein spills it.